Freelance Developmental Editing Jobs in Virginia

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Reporter/Editor About MBN

Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) is the premier Arabic-first media organization that connects the Middle East and the United States. The company is in the midst of an exciting digital transformation and looking for energetic and talented people who care about journalism and the Middle East to join us on this journey.

We provide original and indispensable reporting, perspectives and commentary on the Middle East and how America’s engagement impacts the region. MBN delivers content in both Arabic and English across multiple platforms, in formats including written articles, short-form video, newsletters, podcasts, data trackers and social media.

Our target audience is decision-makers, influencers, and residents of key capitals across the Middle East, as well as the next generation of globally engaged, digitally connected youth.

About The Role

MBN is seeking an experienced English Editor & Regional Reporter based in a Middle East time zone to edit, report, and shape English-language coverage originating from the region.

This role operates at the intersection of rigorous desk editing and active field journalism. You will serve as the primary English-language editor during the MENA news cycle—line editing, copy editing, and fact-checking daily stories, analysis, newsletters, and multimedia scripts according to strict MBN standards.

Beyond editing, you will actively pitch and report original stories, conduct high-level interviews across the region, and manage a roster of per-piece freelance contributors and stringers in key Arab capitals.

The role requires someone who understands that Arabic and English are not parallel systems: they carry different sentence structures, rhetorical pacing, and audience expectations. You will bridge that gap—turning Arabic-origin reporting from regional bureaus into sharp, contextualized English journalism, while producing original, authoritative reporting that explains regional complexities and U.S. policy to an international audience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Ø Editorial Line Editing and Copy Editing

• Edits, line edits, and copy edits daily English-language reporting filed by regional correspondents, stringers, and freelance contributors for accuracy, structure, pacing, clarity, and tone.
• Enforces strict adherence to the MBN Stylebook, MBN’s editorial guidelines, newsroom ethics, and legal standards (libel, sourcing, verification, and attribution).
• Crafts clear, compelling headlines, subheads (deks), captions, social copy, and newsletter subject lines tailored to specific digital platforms and search (SEO) discoverability.
• Serves as the final editorial gatekeeper for English copy during MENA working hours, ensuring proper transliteration of Arabic names, places, and institutional titles.

Ø Original Reporting and Story Production

• Pitches, reports, and writes original English-language news analyses, explainers, features, and enterprise stories focused on Middle Eastern political, economic, and security developments and U.S. engagement in the region.
• Conducts on-the-record interviews with regional officials, diplomats, policy experts, and local sources in English and Arabic.
• Follows breaking news across MENA time zones, rapidly updating ongoing stories and producing timely context pieces.

Ø Freelance and Contributor Management

• Assigns, directs, and edits work from per-piece freelance writers, local fixers, and contributors across the region.
• Works with contributors to sharpen angles, strengthen sourcing, and restructure drafts to meet international editorial standards.
• Coordinates assignments, deadlines, and deliverables to maintain a steady pipeline of English-language content.

Ø Arabic-to-English Adaptation and Recontextualization

• Adapts reporting, commentary, and investigative material generated by MBN’s Arabic-language journalists for English-speaking readers.
• Preserves the core argument, nuances, and sourcing of original Arabic reporting while restructuring the piece to match English-language journalistic conventions.
• Identifies cultural idioms, regional references, and local political framing in Arabic sources that require explanatory context for international and Western audiences.

Ø AI Workflow and Editorial Verification

• Uses AI-assisted and machine-translation tools to streamline initial transcription, translation, and drafting workflows.
• Applies rigorous editorial judgment to AI outputs—correcting mistranslations, factual hallucinations, flattened nuance, awkward syntax, or tone errors before publication.

Other Duties

Perform additional job-related duties and take on new responsibilities as needed based on organizational requirements and circumstances.

Qualifications and Requirements

Candidates are required to have:

• Ø Education: Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, English, Communications, International Relations, Middle Eastern Studies, or equivalent professional experience.
• Ø Experience: 5+ years of professional journalism experience with a demonstrable track record in English line editing, copy editing, and reporting for a digital news organization, wire service, or international publication.
• Ø English Mastery: Native or bilingual English-language writing and editing skills with flawless grammar, syntax, and headline-writing ability.
• Ø Style Mastery: Deep, working knowledge of the AP Stylebook, fact-checking protocols, and newsroom legal standards.
• Ø Arabic Proficiency: Professional working fluency in Arabic (strong reading comprehension and conversational ability required) to evaluate primary sources, assess Arabic reporting, and conduct interviews.
• Ø Reporting Track Record: Demonstrated experience pitching, reporting, and writing original news stories and conducting high-level interviews.
• Ø Regional Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of Middle Eastern politics, regional history, security dynamics, and U.S. foreign policy toward the MENA region.
• Ø Time Zone / Availability: Located in or aligned with MENA time zones, with the ability to respond to fast-breaking regional news cycles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ø Experience commissioning, editing, and managing freelance writers and per-piece contributors across the Middle East and North Africa.
• Ø Familiarity with Content Management Systems (CMS), digital analytics tools, newsletter platforms, and basic SEO practices.
• Ø Experience editing multimedia formats, including video packages, digital explainers, and podcast scripts.
• Ø Practical understanding of Arabic transliteration standards and regional dialect variations in proper nouns.

MBN is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.